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VANCOUVER – The provincial director of child welfare has
released a summary of his review into the death of 19-month-old Sherry Charlie.
The review examined the involvement of Usma
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Community and Human Services and the Ministry of Children and
Family Development to ensure that applicable standards and policies were met in
planning for the child’s care. The review found that Usma, which is provincially
delegated to provide a full range of child-protection services, did not meet
all practice guidelines and standards when it placed Sherry under a “kith and
kin” agreement.
The review resulted in 12 recommendations addressing
training, policy, protocols, procedures and information systems. The agency has
completed all practice-related recommendations. Policy recommendations to the
ministry and the agency are in development and are substantially complete.
Prior to the release of the review, the ministry ensured
that the families were advised and consulted. The ministry reviewed the
findings with the agency, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council and other parties
involved in the review. The findings will also be shared with staff of the
ministry and the province’s other 22 delegated child welfare agencies.
Sherry and her brother had been in their parents’
care until mid-August 2002, when their mother agreed to place them with a
relative due to her inability to properly provide for their care. The ministry
and agency had received a total of 11 previous intake calls related to the
child and her family.
Sherry died on Sept. 4, 2002. One of her caregivers,
Ryan George, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last October and was sentenced to
10 years in jail.
Established in 1987, Usma is one of the oldest
delegated First Nations agencies in B.C. It provides child protection services
for the 14 bands of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth near Port Alberni.
The recommendations and a status report released
today are available at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/about_us/accountability.htm
online.
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contact: |
Communications Manager Ministry of Children and Family Development 250 356-1720 250 213-2511 |
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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